Cable terminal protector



Nov. 6, 1934. M, WALLACE 1,980,121

CABLE TERMINAL PRQTECTOR Fi-led Feb. 15, 1935 Patented Nov. 6, 1934 gUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- This invention relates to cable terminalprotectors, and has for an object to provide means for enclosing thecable terminal parts where it connects to a battery to preventthedeposition of B corrosive exudation upon or about said cable terminal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an enveloping sheet ofmaterial not acted upon by the acid of the battery, which will-enclosethe cable terminal and maintain such terminal out of the danger ofcorrosive deposits.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sheet of materialwhich will fit a battery post and infold a cable terminal, said sheet ofmaterial being cohesive and acid-resistant.

The invention, therefore, comprises a sheet of material of someacid-resistant substance, such for instance as rubber, and initspreferred form, will be uncured rubber, which is cohesive and which maybe folded about an applied cable terminal and cohere to form an envelopeabout said terminal to prevent the contact with said terminal ofcohesive deposits.

In the drawing:

a Figure 1 is a perspective view of the top of a conventional batteryand post with the sheet of. acid-resistant material laid thereon, andthe cable terminal applied,

Figure 2 is a perspective view from the under side of the cable terminalencased in the acidresistant sheet of material, and

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the casing, batterypost, and cable terminal.

mire characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

To illustrate the present invention, a conventional battery 10 is shownwith a conventional battery post 11. No attempt has been made to conformto any particular type of battery, and it is to be understood that itwill be applied to any form of battery in common use. The cable terminal12 is likewise of a conventional type, and while a particular type ofterminal has been shown, it is to be understood that the presentinvention applies to any type of cable terminal now or hereafter used.

It is to be understood that a terminal of the type shown is applied bybeing clamped upon the post 11, by the nut and screw 13, but any othertype of clamping is fully within the terms of the present invention.

The invention comprises a sheet of acid-resistant material 14 withpreferably a ring 15 of elastic material, which will firmly clamp aboutthe post 11 of the battery, an opening 16 being provided for thatpurpose. While the present invention is not in any way limited to theparticular type of sheet material employed, the type of material atpresent preferred is the uncured rubber, which is cohesive and similarlyacid-resistant.

The rubber sheets of this'type are at present marketed with a sheet ofrelatively impervious textile applied to the side of greatest cohesion,but the sheet of textile is unimportant to the present invention, exceptas a preservative of the adhesiveness and is not shown in the drawing.

As applied to the battery, the elastic which is applied to the sheet ofmaterial is forced over the battery post and the elasticity is such asto bind the ring and sheet into intimate contact with the post, and toprevent the passage between the sheet and the post of any corrosivematter.

The protective sheet of fabric may be removed before or after it hasbeen applied to the post, as it is wholly immaterial so that the sheetof adhesive resistant material shall be properly .placed upon the top ofthe battery, with the side -of greatest adhesiveness uppermost.

After the terminal has been properly clamped upon the post to make therequired or desired electrical connection, the sheet of resistantmaterial is folded over the terminal, and by reason of its somewhatplastic condition, is able to conform itself to the inequalities of suchterminal.

'The folded edges are overlapped as indicated at 1'7 and the other edgesare pinched together as indicated at 18. This acidresistant envelopewill, therefore, wholly and completely envelope and enseal the cableterminal and preserve between such terminal and the cell a tight jointeffected by the elastic ring.

While an elastic ring has been shown and is preferred, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the use of such elasticring, and that the material of the sheet itself may be so employed as toefiect the tight joint required about the battery post to prevent thepassage of corrosive substances.

When the terminal is to be removed from the post, the envelope may beeasily torn away and discarded, and when the terminal is returned to thepost, a new envelope will be employed.

Of course the cable terminal protector herein illustrated may bemodified and changed in various ways without departing from theinvention herein set forth and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. A battery terminal protector consisting of a flexible-sheet ofacid-resisting material having an aperture therein to receive a batterypost, said sheet having one side formed with an adhesive whereby it maybe placed on a cable terminal and folded to conform to and seal theterminal.

2. A battery terminal protector consisting of a flexible sheet ofacid-resisting material having an aperture therein to receive a batterypost, said sheet having an elastic reinforcing ring about said apertureand having one side formed with an adhesive whereby it may be placed ona cable post and folded about in conformation with and sealing theterminal, said sealing resulting from adhesive upon one side of thesheet adhering to other parts likewise provided with such adhesive.

4. The combination with a battery post and cable terminal, of a terminalprotector consisting of a sheet of flexible acid-resisting material having an aperture therein with an elastic reinforcing ring about saidaperture embracing the post and folded over and about the terminal intoconformance with the shape of the terminal, and sealing said terminal byadhesive upon one face of the sheet adhering to like adhesive uponengaging parts extending beyond and over the terminal.

MORTON WALLACE.

